New York Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2027 season ran from September 9 to 15, opening with Henry Zankov’s debut at Diane von Furstenberg and closing with Thom Browne. Across the week, a wave of female stars filled the front rows at Coach, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Tory Burch, among others, turning the shows themselves into as much of a spectacle as the clothes on the runway.
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr opened her Fashion Week in New York at the Coach Spring 2027 show on September 9, seated front row alongside Troye Sivan and flowerovlove. She wore a black leather skirt and matching bralette layered under a loose, light coloured shirt left open, finished with Coach’s signature Tabby bag. The look was included in British Vogue’s roundup of celebrities at the season’s early shows. She followed it up the next day with another standout New York moment, stepping out in a vintage 1992 Azzedine Alaia striped bodycon mini dress alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
British actress Cynthia Erivo, whose parents are Nigerian immigrants, attended the Ralph Lauren show on September 9 alongside Viola Davis, with designer Ralph Lauren himself making a brief appearance. The presentation drew a wave of media attention for the star power in its audience, with Anna Wintour also seated front row.
Somali Canadian model Sabrina Dhowre Elba, wife of actor Idris Elba, attended the Calvin Klein show alongside Isan Elba, Idris Elba’s daughter, whose heritage spans Ghana and Sierra Leone through her father’s side. Isan Elba also appeared at the Coach show earlier in the week, making two front row appearances across the season.
Gabrielle Union attended the Michael Kors show, while Tracee Ellis Ross opened Fashion Week a day early at Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 19th Annual Fashion Show and Style Awards on September 8, an event that has become an unofficial kickoff to the week and centres Black designers and culture.
Beyond the African and diaspora names, the week’s front rows were stacked with global stars. Camila Cabello and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo attended Tommy Hilfiger together, while Calvin Klein’s show alone drew Rosalia, Pamela Anderson, Sadie Sink, Gemma Chan, Katie Holmes and Tate McRae. Amanda Seyfried appeared at Tory Burch, and Teyana Taylor was also spotted at Calvin Klein.
